The Concept of Good Design: Invisibility and Functionality - Insights from Don Norman and Dieter Rams

The South China Morning Post highlights various examples of creativity influencing the world, ranging from handmade ceramics and the Red A stool stool in Hong Kong to reimagined play zones and the transformation of the Outback by wildflowers. The publication references a statement from American researcher, professor, and author Don Norman, who, in his 1988 book The Design of Everyday Things, asserted that good design is invisible, suggesting that most people recognize its value only when it is not present. Furthermore, the article mentions that according to German industrial designer Dieter Rams, who authored a list of 10 principles for good design in the 1970s, when design functions well, it is useful, understandable, and unobtrusive. At least, according to American researcher, professor, and author Don Norman, in his 1988 book The Design of Everyday Things, good design is invisible: most of us appreciate it only when it’s absent. Design, whether it is aesthetically pleasing or not, is present in every aspect of our surroundings, influencing how we engage with the world, from tableware and surfaces to everyday items such as door handles, buttons, and signage.